Sports

The Van Lady Vandals have been a team on a mission in recent weeks, turning back all challengers in their quest to stake their claim as the top team in a stacked District 16-4A. That quest came to an end this week as Van bested both Athens and chief rival Canton to finish their district run with an 11-1 record overall.

ON THE BALL.

The Wills Point Tigers were able to catch their breath last week with this year’s district race winding down, hitting the court just once in a contest against the Sunnyvale Raiders Feb. 3.

The Martins Mill Mustangs hit the homestretch of district play last week, wrapping up the first of two rounds with a 63-44 rout of Kerens on the road Jan. 27.

DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com The Wills Point Lady Tigers have found themselves in an interesting for much of the 2022-’23 season, never winning or losing more than two games in a row since November. That trend continued last week as the Lady Tigers suffered a narrow loss to the Kaufman Lady Lions before routing Nevada Community in key District 14-4A showdowns.

sports@vanzandtnews.com The Van Lady Vandals maintained their position atop the District 16-4A standings last week, acing one of their biggest tests of the season in a 49- 47 win over a scrappy Lindale squad Jan. 27.

sports@vanzandtnews.com The Edgewood Lady Dogs improved their overall record to 23-7 last week, rolling past the overmatched Lone Oak Lady Buffaloes 51-22. The victory, Edgewood’s ninth in district, helped the Lady Dogs to maintain the top spot with a contest against Emory Rains looming just over the horizon Feb. 7.

Athletes representing Canton, Grand Saline, Van and Wills Point squared off against several other top area programs Jan. 28 at the Van Invitational Powerlifting Meet.

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The Texas High School Coaches Association announced the official state finalists of Texas for the 2022-‘23 National Football Foundation National High School Academic Excellence Award in a press release Jan. 20.